Friday 26 / July / 2024
Muscat: Let’s play together! Oman Football Association’s (OFA) continuous efforts to raise the profile of domestic football and create meaningful partnership with key stakeholders got a further boost when the national governing body inked a strategic media partnership deal with the Muscat Media Group (MMG) for the 2023-24 season on Thursday.
MMG is the leading media group in the Sultanate of Oman. Founded by the late Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali, the group has played a vibrant role in Omani society since 1975.
Being the media gateway for the population of Oman - from the young, ambitious Omani workforce, to the vibrant expat community, the power-players, and the decision-makers, the deal is expected to serve as a catalyst to the development of local football.
With a 360-degree platform for media coverage, which includes Times of Oman and Al Shabiba in print, strong digital, video and FM Radio presence, OFA hopes to reach new frontiers in their approach to get closer to the youth and football-loving population of the Sultanate of Oman.
OFA believes in community partnership and in a bid to enhance the role of media, signed the season-long deal. The agreement was signed by Salem bin Saeed bin Salem Al Wahaibi, OFA President, and Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali, CEO, Muscat Media Group.
Speaking after the signing of the agreement, Al Wahaibi said, “Muscat Media Group is a leading media institution. Our decision to ink an agreement with the reputed group was based on various factors and offers made to the association. After a careful study of various bidders, Muscat Media Group was selected and we are pleased to join hands with them.”
He added, “We are constantly striving for development of football, and trying to involve government institutions and the private sector to enhance the sports and youth sector. We realise the potential of the media and its role and we hope the deal will help us achieve our goals.”
Al Zedjali expressed his happiness at signing the media partnership agreement with the Omani Football Association. He said: “We hope that our media group (Al Shabiba and Times of Oman in print and various other digital platforms) will succeed in providing quality media coverage during the current football season.”
He added: “This media partnership is a positive step for both the organisations and the Muscat Media Group will provide elaborate and quality services to the passionate football fans through various media programmes (press, radio, television and electronic). The details of various programmes will be revealed in the coming days.”
The 2023-24 Omantel League, Sultanate of Oman’s top-flight league, featuring 12 teams began on Thursday and the first week concluded with five games played on Thursday and Friday.
